Politically confused Christians

It makes perfect sense that Obama is courting, and will win the support of, many young evangelicals in November. Many Gen-Xers and Millennials are exhausted by a Christianity that does nothing but throw rocks at "da-big-bad-culture" and, for some 40 years, seems to care more about gaining power in the federal government than loving and serving their neighbor. Obama has wisely tapped into the angst of an entire generation of people who heard sermons about abortion on "Right-To-Life Sunday" but never heard sermons about Christians needing to fight for children forced into sex slavery.

Why is sex slavery not a "Right-To-Life" issue?

The religious right revolution of the 1980s was witnessed by a generation who now understand, in adulthood, that being a Republican and a Christian are not necessarily synonymous. As a matter of fact, the only political party with values consistent with Christian political thought over the centuries is the Constitution Party. Some have lamented the seemingly blind allegiance by Christians and others to a Republican party that many have argued is moving closer and closer toward big-government statism. But is there really any political party that consistently holds to the priorities of the Kingdom?

The Constitution Party has the following seven principles:

1. Life: For all human beings, from conception to natural death;

2. Liberty: Freedom of conscience and actions for the self-governed individual;

3. Family: One husband and one wife with their children as divinely instituted;

4. Property: Each individual's right to own and steward personal property without government burden;

5. Constitution: and Bill of Rights interpreted according to the actual intent of the Founding Fathers;

6. States' Rights: Everything not specifically delegated by the Constitution to the federal government is reserved for the state and local jurisdictions;

7. American Sovereignty: American government committed to the protection of the borders, trade, and common defense of Americans, and not entangled in foreign alliances.

So why aren't Christians, en masse, joining the Constitution Party? It may have something to do with the fact that for most Christians, our theology really does not inform our politics. Politics and faith are two unrelated compartments for most of us, if we're honest. This compartmentalization, in part, explains why so many evangelicals uncritically embrace the socialistic and Marxist visions of Jim Wallis, Wendell Berry, Shane Claiborne, Brian McLaren, Tony Campolo, and so on.

At least in the U.K., leftist Christians are honest about their socialism and have formed the Christian Socialist Movement (CSM). The Christian socialists have "a radical commitment to social justice, to protecting the environment and to fostering peace and reconciliation." Sound familiar? "We believe that 'loving our neighbour' in the fullest sense involves struggling for a fair and just society, one in which all can enjoy the 'fullness of life' Jesus came to announce," CSM declares.

Jim Wallis' Sojourners group, "Christians for Justice and Peace," also has a mission "to articulate the biblical call to social justice, inspiring hope and building a movement to transform individuals, communities, the church, and the world." Why don't we just call it for what it really is? Christian socialism.

Regardless of what happens in November, Christian voting trends in this election season reveal a need for more teaching about God's desires for His world and the church's role in building civil society. While it could be good that Christians are all over the political map in this political season, it could also be a sign that we're all confused at the moment.